Texas Border Business
MCALLEN, TEXAS –New live features will kick off commencement exercises for South Texas College ahead of graduation on May 15.
Beginning this week, students will be invited to attend drive-by graduation events at the Starr, Pecan, Mid-Valley, and Nursing & Allied Health Campuses from April 28 – 30 in order to have their photo taken with faculty, family, and guests in front of an STC backdrop.
Graduates will be assigned a time for their photo opportunity by STC staff.
STC will still be holding its spring 2021 commencement virtually. A new feature however is the inclusion of a live ceremony broadcast beginning at 10 a.m. on May 15, which has been designed to reflect the college’s traditional in-person commencement.
A commencement party will be invited to participate in a processional, followed by a five to 10-minute live address by interim STC president Dr. David Plummer. Videos from deans and faculty will be broadcast, and Dr. Plummer will pronounce the graduates as well as lead the traditional turning of the tassels.
STC will confer an estimated 3,444 graduates this semester.
Students were asked in April to begin submitting personal messages and photos, which will then be put on a web slide printed with the student’s name, degree, field of study, and honors.
STC will also share social media videos of faculty congratulating graduates leading up to the virtual ceremony. Students were also sent an email informing them of their marching order, along with specific instructions on how to access the link, and upload their photo and messages to their individual graduate slide.
“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to offer our students a virtual graduation ceremony and wish all graduates the best in their future endeavors,” said Cindy Blanco, Director of Student Records and Registrar at South Texas College. “We know this a dream come true for our students and despite COVID-19, STC made every effort to make this as celebratory as possible for them in honor of all of their sacrifices and achievements.”
